UPDF FORCES REPORTEDLY CLASH WITH LRA, FARDC

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 000661 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/27/2016 TAGS: PGOV PREL KPKO MOPS CG SU UG SUBJECT: UPDF FORCES REPORTEDLY CLASH WITH LRA, FARDC INSIDE DRC Classified By: PolOff CBrown, reasons 1.4 b/d. ¶1. (C) MONUC Eastern Division commanders report that elements of the Ugandan People's Defense Forces (UPDF) clashed April 26 with suspected rebels of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) near the DRC border post of Lasso (approximately 12 miles northeast of Aba). MONUC commanders also told PolOff that elements of the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC) -- most likely FARDC commandos stationed in Aba -- may have been fired upon when they arrived on the scene. MONUC Eastern Division Operations Chief Lt. Col. Johann Heyns told PolOff that MONUC is dispatching April 27 a platoon of peacekeepers to Aba to investigate the situation. ¶2. (C) MONUC's military observation team in Aba reported April 26 that a group of about 50 suspected LRA members fled deeper into the DRC after a battle with UPDF troops near Lasso, on the border with Sudan. MONUC observers report that the LRA forces probably were probably cutting across DRC territory en route to Morobo, located approximately 40 miles south of Yei, just inside the Sudanese border. Elements from the FARDC 1st Integrated Brigade patrolling the DRC-Sudan border in Aru territory have been requested to monitor the situation and confirm any LRA movements. ¶3. (C) Later the evening of April 26, an unknown number of FARDC troops came into contact with armed elements (subsequently identified as UPDF troops) at Adau village (10 miles southwest of Aba). Per MONUC, the presence of UPDF forces in this area suggests the Ugandans continued their pursuit of the LRA after the initial engagement in Lasso, and despite the presence of Congolese military forces. ¶4. (C) MONUC commanders told PolOff that MONUC and the FARDC are continuing to gather information about the UPDF and LRA incursions. Heyns said he believed the UPDF military pursuit was likely temporary and that the Ugandans had withdrawn from DRC territory. He added that as of April 27, there have been no further reports of UPDF presence in the DRC. DOUGHERTY